Justin Laskin has been appointed to a further three Design Review Panels; London Borough of Bromley, Epping Forest District Council, and Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.

Design advocacy isn’t just something we talk about at PTE – we practise it every week. Our internal reviews test ideas at every stage of every project, challenging assumptions, sharpening what matters: the big idea, the lived experience, who it serves. The goal isn’t to judge or catch people out; it’s to make the work stronger. Because so many of us are on design review panels across the country, it’s a great trial run for the key topics that are going to come up during the planning process. For clients, this leads to clearer, more robust schemes that stand up to scrutiny, and for communities, it means places that are more thoughtful and better rooted in their context.

Design review provides space for informed, constructive challenge – something the industry desperately needs, especially when programmes are tight and pressures are high. At its best, it helps teams lift their heads from immediate constraints and refocus on long‑term quality, liveability, and civic value. When the culture of critique is missing, decision‑making can become defensive or overly risk‑averse. Schemes get watered down, short‑term thinking takes precedence, and design quality suffers. Over time, that can erode public trust. External panels matter, but so do strong internal review cultures. The more openly we share ideas and learn from one another, the better the outcomes.

Panels must be consistent, fair and constructive – not just to individual project teams, but to the wider system. That means anchoring comments to an agreed understanding of what ‘good design’ looks like, rather than personal taste. The consolidation of national and local design guidance is helpful in this regard. It provides a clearer common reference point and makes expectations more transparent for everyone involved. Used well, guidance supports better conversations rather than replacing judgment. Ultimately, a panel’s role is to ask the right questions – in a way that encourages better design, not fear of criticism.

Justin also sits on the Essex Quality Review Panel, and Hackney Design Review Panel. See our Design advocacy page for further details.